Daily Yellowstone journal., 1887-01-23
THE PESTS OF GREAT STORES.
Respectable Looking Women VIII" steal
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Pocketbooks- kieptomaniacs
Women ~pickpockets generally rob
women, the male pickpockcts combining
their operations to working crowded cars
and w~ringing watches on crowded streets.
The watch wringers are very skillful.
They can feel a mans watch through the
heaviest clothing, and by an almost inn
perceptible movement a draw it from
the pocket, wiring il from the chain, place
the chain back in the pocket and disap-
pear in the crowd before the victim dis
covers his loss. These fellows generally
work in pairs; n Of them, called the
''stall, -" distracts the attention of the VIC
tim. either 10y jostling him or getting into
an alteration with him, while his part
ner. who is known as the tool" deity
remove the watch. There is also another
class of male thieves known las the ''caba
worker" This kind Of gentry generally
work alone and ''do" stores and railroad
stations. Their modus opctandi is to
snatch a caba while the owner il not
looking and leave a dummy in its place.
The stolen caba is relieved Of its con-
tents. taken to another store or station.
where, If an opportunity occurs, il re-
places another caba. which the owner
may have carclcssly left lying OF a coun-
ter while purchasing goods in some other
department of the store. Sometimes a
good caha worker will get several hun
drcd dollars in aday, as nearly all women
shoppers carry their purses in their cahas.
and No woman thinks of going shopping
without n plcthoric purse. except the
shopper who never docs anything but
look. and the experienced Gala worker
knows her at a glance and gives her a
wide berth.
The female pickpnckcts are the most
successful workers in crowded stores.
They are generally in pairs and are known
rs the ''stall' and her ''wirc." The
stall" is generally respectable locking,
wcll dressed woman, who is always in a
hurry and anxious TO examine goods at a
counter crowded with customers. She
talks To her wire" in a %patronizing way.
The ''wirc' calls her miss or madam, all
Of which imprcsses the crowd with the
stalls importance, and in a hustling,
buStling sort Of way she forces herself
through the crowd, toSses the goods
around the counter, attracts the attention
NJ the customers and distracts the atten-
tion Of the salcspeOple. while the wire
gets her work in on the packets or carries
away a stray caba. There are probably
more pckcthoOks picked Off Of countess
than are taken from packets or cahas.
The detectives in the large establishments
are always on the lookout for thc shawl
racket" This is generally worked by
women who dress plainly and have the
appearance If hard working and honest
housewives. They generally work around
the handkerchief counter, where they
can easily toss the goods. They will
watch until they see some customer lay
her pocketbook on the counter. when
they will approach. deity cover the GOV.
etcd spoil with whatever is nearest at
hand, and while asking the price Of some
article which they will spread out on the
counter with one hand they will. under
cover of the shawl. which is skillfully
thrown over the pile concealing the purse,
abstract the plumber from lis snug little
nesi and transfer it Ia some convenient
pocket.
In the course of conversation with the
head of the detective department of adry
goods establishment. he said: There is
very little pocket picking done in the
large stores now. Nearly all the expert
professionals are dead or put away.
Those still plying the trade are 81 well
known that they are afraid Ia operate in
establishments where experienced de-
t~ectiyes are continually On the watch for
them. If you want TO SEE some expert
'stalling' and wiring done, just watch
the crowds block the pavements in front
of the show windows. Ii il there the
thieves gather their harvest. Enthusiasts
IT, Young women and benevolent luoking
old gentlemen 20 into ~rhapsodies ovcr the
beautiful things in the windows. They
also 90 into the pockets and calus Of the
crowd.
Sometimes new hands will work the
stores. hut we can generally get ON to
them, for thieves are always suspicious
and will always look around TO see that no
one is watching before they begin opera
tons. IL they think any n is spotting
them, they will begin spotting themselves.
We can nearly always detect them inihat
way. The people who give Us the most
trouble are slloplifters and pilferers.
Very frequently the pilferers are children,
and not infrequently they are respectfully
connected. They generally lift small ar
ticles that are easily concealed. and it is
very hard TO detect them in the act, as
they may be accompanied by parents or
other persons who should at least be sup
posed 10 be innocent OF completely with
them. Many articles are taken by klepto-
maniacs. or KEEPS rs they are called.
These r"ople are generally well 10 do,
and merely steal because they have
periodical attacks Of the disease. and
while under its influence are almost as
expert as professional shoplifteIs. They
are generally known, however, not only
TO the detective but 10 the ~salespeople,
and the goods are always paid for by
their relatives. philadelphia Times.